During the Middle Ages, accusations of witchcraft were tried in the Church courts. Moving into the 1500s and the complicated wave of religious change that came in England, witchcraft was made a crime offence punishable by death. Trials now took place in ordinary courts of the day.

People believed that witches had made a formal agreement with the devil in order to receive magical powers (e.g. flying, causing people or farms to fall ill and die). Towards the end of the 16th century, the attitudes towards witchcraft began to change. They were seen as foolish and confused, trying to take advantage of other people.

The Law and Witchcraft:

1542 Witchcraft Act - Henry VIII changed the law, witchcraft became a very serious crime which carried the possibility of death
1563 Act against Conjurations, Enchantments and Witchcraft (Elizabeth I) - witchcraft was tried in the ordinary court, no longer the Church courts. Death penalty was issued when a witch caused harm to another person. Minor witchcraft (e.g. magic) was punished with stocks.
1604 Witchcraft and Conjuration Act (James I) - If a witch summoned evil spirits she would be killed
1735 Witchcraft Act (George II) - witches viewed as tricksters and mainly punished with fines and prison sentences.

Why was witchcraft taken more seriously?

In the late 16th century, the English economy was going through problems of falling wages and high unemployment. With these problems came increased tension between communities. When livestock died and poor crop yields occurred, people decided to blame the situation on evil spirits and witchcraft rather than natural reasons
The fear that vagabonds created made rich people suspicious of the poorer members of society (mainly the rich class accused poorer classes of witchcraft)
Witchcraft was a crime against the state as well as a religious crime after the laws brought in by Henry VIII